hitachi drill press 15 inch floor model

mechanic · Mar 20, 2007

Has anyone bought the hitachi drill press and liked it? I was looking at the one Lowes has for $199 but like the delta better. But if hitachi is just as good why pay for the name.

MrJimi · Mar 20, 2007

I just went to their site and that must be an in store item? do you have a link to them ?
I have a 15" Craftsman DP and I love it with the 5/8 chuck and ridiculous amount of speeds it has, it's a real horse
Jim

mechanic · Mar 20, 2007

We have a Lowes here and the drill is priced at $199. I guess it would be the same at other Lowes.

weldingisfun · Mar 20, 2007

Give us some more information so we can help you with your decision. Such as, what will you be drilling? If you plan on drilling lots of varying thicknesses of metal, you want to be sure that it has low speeds. I have a Delta and the lowest speed is 620, much to fast for thicker metals.

RedRocker · Mar 20, 2007

Low speeds is the trick, 3K rpm is pretty useless for most things.

EddieWalker · Mar 20, 2007

mechanic said:
Has anyone bought the hitachi drill press and liked it? I was looking at the one Lowes has for $199 but like the delta better. But if hitachi is just as good why pay for the name.

From what I've seen of hand power tools, Hitachi really isn't in the same league as Delta. Not even close.

Have you checked out Grizzly Tools? Grizzly Industrial -- Home I don't have any, but my brother is very happy with the deals he's been getting from them.

Eddie

schmism · Mar 20, 2007

EddieWalker said:
From what I've seen of hand power tools, Hitachi really isn't in the same league as Delta. Not even close.

Have you checked out Grizzly Tools? Grizzly Industrial -- Home I don't have any, but my brother is very happy with the deals he's been getting from them.

Eddie

Depends on what tools your talking about. Hitachi has some of the best miter saws and air nailers.

Grizzly is a step above Harbor freight for "inexpensive" chinese tools, but still comes up short when compaird to Jet, Delta, Bridgeport, etc.

Cliff_Johns · Mar 20, 2007

mechanic said:
Has anyone bought the hitachi drill press and liked it? I was looking at the one Lowes has for $199 but like the delta better. But if hitachi is just as good why pay for the name.

Why do you like the Delta better?

A drill press isn't a very complicated machine (unless you get the tilting head ones) but it must be accurate. Specifically, it must be easy to get the table square to the bit, set the speed, and define a depth stop.

Most companies get the basics right, but the thing that really varies is the run out on the bit. That is, how big a hole do you get with that perfect 1/4" bit? If the Arbor or the chuck has a noticeable wobble, you will learn to hate that machine. Since the Arbor it usually to tollerance, it becomes a question of how good the chuck is. Take along a couple straight pointed pins and a very small bit and see how well the chuck grabs the bit and then see if it wobbles. A piece of paper on the table will show a wobble pretty well.

It's all in the chuck. A crappy chuck makes a crappy drillpress.

Cliff

scott_vt · Mar 21, 2007

Cliff_Johns said:
Why do you like the Delta better?

A drill press isn't a very complicated machine (unless you get the tilting head ones) but it must be accurate. Specifically, it must be easy to get the table square to the bit, set the speed, and define a depth stop.

Most companies get the basics right, but the thing that really varies is the run out on the bit. That is, how big a hole do you get with that perfect 1/4" bit? If the Arbor or the chuck has a noticeable wobble, you will learn to hate that machine. Since the Arbor it usually to tollerance, it becomes a question of how good the chuck is. Take along a couple straight pointed pins and a very small bit and see how well the chuck grabs the bit and then see if it wobbles. A piece of paper on the table will show a wobble pretty well.

It's all in the chuck. A crappy chuck makes a crappy drillpress.

Cliff

Mornin Cliff,
I have to agree ! I bought an AMT drillpress about 16 years ago for $250 and it has been an excellent machine. The spindle bearings are descent and so is the chuck ! The size bit I grab is what the machine drills !
For a machine in that price range it gives very good service IMO!

daddywags · Mar 21, 2007

I have one that i bought at christmas time and it runs great. I own delta tools as well and this is every bit as good or better. it has a lazer and plenty of speeds and power. i got it on sale 150.00